Pennsylvania

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Jul 31, 2016

The Bradford Era: Highland Twp. slates home rule hearing for Sunday

The Bradford Era: Highland Twp. slates home rule hearing for Sunday

The Home Rule Study Commission in Highland Township, PA, is holding a public hearing Sunday. The commissioners may recommend drafting a charter to govern the Township, and would seek input from residents on content. The Charter will likely contain a bill of rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 31, 2016

The Bradford Era: Highland Township Home Rule group votes to draft charter

The Bradford Era: Highland Township Home Rule group votes to draft charter

The Home Rule Study Commission in Highland Township, PA, held a public meeting Sunday to share information about drafting a Home Rule Charter. The Charter, if adopted in November, would recognize and protect the rights of residents to make governing decisions.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 30, 2016

The Bradford Era: Highland Twp. to possibly rescind bill of rights ordinance

The Bradford Era: Highland Twp. to possibly rescind bill of rights ordinance

Highland Township, PA, Supervisors prepare to betray residents and rescind their rights-based ordinance banning frack wastewater injection wells. Residents, meanwhile, are drafting a Home Ruler charter that would ban injection wells. Such a charter would be beyond the reach of the Supervisors.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 27, 2016

The Bradford Era: Highland Township Home Rule group hears from supervisor

The Bradford Era: Highland Township Home Rule group hears from supervisor

Highland Township, PA, residents begin drafting a Home Rule Charter. They consult with Grant Township, where last November residents overwhelmingly adopted a new, rights-based charter that included a ban on frack wastewater injection wells.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 9, 2016

The Bradford Era: Highland Township to draft Home Rule Charter

The Bradford Era: Highland Township to draft Home Rule Charter

Highland Township, PA’s, government study commission issues its report: their existing governing structure allows a few people to make decisions that belong to the many. It’s time for a Home Rule form of government, allowing the community to make the governing decisions.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jun 24, 2016

The Bradford Era: Highland Township Home Rule group discusses progress made

The Bradford Era: Highland Township Home Rule group discusses progress made

Highland Township, PA, residents review their governing code, finding it insufficient to meet the needs of the community because it places corporate “rights” over community rights. They are drafting a Home Rule charter that elevates communities over corporations.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jun 9, 2016

Community Rights Paper #13: Breaking the Planet

Community Rights Paper #13: Breaking the Planet

Breaking the Planet takes an unflinching look at climate change, the legal and governing structures accelerating our own destruction, and the radical action necessary to cease the sweeping and violent damage being done to the planet, and us.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

May 25, 2016

The Bradford Era: Highland Township Home Rule Charter group holds first meeting

The Bradford Era: Highland Township Home Rule Charter group holds first meeting

Highland Township, PA’s Home Rule Study Commission was voted in last month. Last night, they held their first meeting to begin consideration of becoming a Home Rule township, retaining CELDF as legal counsel.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

May 23, 2016

The World: Movement growing to defend against corporate interests

The World: Movement growing to defend against corporate interests

State governments block communities’ efforts to stop harmful activities. Corporations sue the communities and are backed by the judiciary. What’s left? Says blogger Mary Geddry: people insisting on their right to local community self-government.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

May 13, 2016

YES! Magazine: Faced With a Fracking Giant, This Small Town Just Legalized Civil Disobedience

YES! Magazine: Faced With a Fracking Giant, This Small Town Just Legalized Civil Disobedience

Grant Township, PA, residents send one clear, united message to the fracking industry: There will be no frack wastewater injection wells in our community. And we’re legalizing civil disobedience to make sure of it.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

May 6, 2016

Thom Hartmann Program: Civil Disobedience Just Became a Civic Duty

Thom Hartmann Program: Civil Disobedience Just Became a Civic Duty

Thom Hartmann interviews CELDF’s Chad Nicholson on Grant Township’s bold move to make civil disobedience a civic duty. Grant residents insist on protecting their community from toxic frack wastewater.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

May 4, 2016

Public Herald: Pennsylvania Township First To Legalize Civil Disobedience & ‘Bad Boy’ Tim DeChristopher Has Their Back

Public Herald: Pennsylvania Township First To Legalize Civil Disobedience & ‘Bad Boy’ Tim DeChristopher Has Their Back

How Grant Township, PA, residents continue to make history as they stand against PGE to stop a frack wastewater injection well – and garner support from members of the Climate Disobedience Center.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

May 4, 2016

Common Dreams: In This Passionate Anti-Fracking Town, Civil Disobedience Just Became Protected Civic Duty

Common Dreams: In This Passionate Anti-Fracking Town, Civil Disobedience Just Became Protected Civic Duty

In the face of PGE threatening a fracking wastewater injection well despite a local law banning injection wells, Grant Township, PA, residents make bold move and legalize civil disobedience.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

May 3, 2016

Press Release: Pennsylvania Township Legalizes Civil Disobedience

Press Release: Pennsylvania Township Legalizes Civil Disobedience

Grant Township, PA, residents make history as the first community in the U.S. to legalize nonviolent civil disobedience to protect their community from a fracking wastewater injection well.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Apr 29, 2016

The Bradford Era: Highland Twp. supervisor’s comments lead to motion in federal case

The Bradford Era: Highland Twp. supervisor’s comments lead to motion in federal case

A newly appointed Highland Twp, PA, supervisor reveals he is not supportive of the Township’s Community Bill of Rights banning injection wells. In a lawsuit, CELDF attorneys request the judge to reconsider intervention by residents and the Crystal Spring ecosystem.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 27, 2016

The Bradford Era: Highland Township voters OK exploration of Home Rule Charter

The Bradford Era: Highland Township voters OK exploration of Home Rule Charter

Residents of Highland Township, PA, vote “yes” to consider a Home Rule form of government as they work for local community decision-making. The Township is fighting for their right to protect their community from a frack wastewater injection well.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 26, 2016

Press Release: Highland Township Votes “Yes”to Consider Home Rule

Press Release: Highland Township Votes “Yes”to Consider Home Rule

As Highland Township, PA, residents fight to keep out a frack wastewater injection well, tonight they voted “yes” to form a study commission to consider a Home Rule form of government, which could expand local control.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success Story

Apr 25, 2016

The Daily Item: My Turn: A necessary change to the system

The Daily Item: My Turn: A necessary change to the system

Our own local electeds are bound by our legal structure to allow harmful corporate practices into the communities they’ve sworn to protect. It’s up to the people to change this structure.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 25, 2016

Philly.com: A tiny town’s resistance to shale gas is put to the test

Philly.com: A tiny town’s resistance to shale gas is put to the test

Seneca Resources vows to defend its property rights – including its claimed right to site a wastewater injection well, which threatens drinking water sources. The people of Highland Township, PA, vow to protect their water and their community.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 11, 2016

Lancaster Online: Speaker: Pennsylvania communities need to revolt against Constitution to stop pipelines

Lancaster Online: Speaker: Pennsylvania communities need to revolt against Constitution to stop pipelines

Thomas Linzey speaks to how our legal structure keeping us from protecting our well-being, safeguarding ecosystems, and establishing a sustainable future. We need to change the structure to change the outcome.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Mar 31, 2016

Kane Republican: Highland seen as leader in ‘revolt’ against corporations

Kane Republican: Highland seen as leader in ‘revolt’ against corporations

Highland Township, PA, is one of the leaders for communities across the U.S. that are advancing Community Rights to protect themselves from harm.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Mar 31, 2016

The Bradford Era: CELDF founder lays out benefits of Home Rule charter to Highland Township

The Bradford Era: CELDF founder lays out benefits of Home Rule charter to Highland Township

CELDF’s Thomas Linzey speaks to Highland Township, PA, residents on their fight to protect their community from a frack wastewater injection well. Highland residents are considering a Community Rights Home Rule charter.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Mar 27, 2016

The Bradford Era: Highland Township continues exploring home rule

The Bradford Era: Highland Township continues exploring home rule

Highland Township, PA, residents consider pursuing a Community Rights Home Rule Charter to protect themselves from Seneca Resources’ proposed injection well.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Feb 27, 2016

The Bradford Era: Highland Twp. residents to vote on home rule charter in April

The Bradford Era: Highland Twp. residents to vote on home rule charter in April

Highland Township, PA, residents to vote on home rule as a tool to advance community rights and protect themselves from a fracking wastewater injection well. Seneca Resources Corporation is claiming a corporate “right” to site the well.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Dec 14, 2015

PA Township News: Pre-emptive State Laws and Corporate ‘Rights’ Are Fraught with PERIL for Municipalities

PA Township News: Pre-emptive State Laws and Corporate ‘Rights’ Are Fraught with PERIL for Municipalities

CELDF responds to inaccuracies presented by the general counselor to the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association regarding Community Bills of Rights and our organization.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Dec 2, 2015

Two Landslide Wins in PA

Two Landslide Wins in PA

In November, both Grant Township and West Chester Borough, PA, residents adopt community rights measures to assert their authority for self-determination and to protect themselves from fracking activities.

Read More | Press Releases & Blogs, Success Story

Nov 4, 2015

Pittsburgh Business Times: This town hates frack waste so much it refuted a federal judge’s ruling and adopted a new charter to ban it

Pittsburgh Business Times: This town hates frack waste so much it refuted a federal judge’s ruling and adopted a new charter to ban it

Grant Township, PA, residents refuse to accept a federal judge’s ruling in favor of a fracking corporation that wants to site an injection well. Instead, they adopted their own community rights home rule charter, which includes a frack waste ban.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Nov 4, 2015

Press Release: West Chester, PA, Voters Adopt Community Rights Charter Amendment Banning Fracking Wastewater, Pipelines, and Drilling

Press Release: West Chester, PA, Voters Adopt Community Rights Charter Amendment Banning Fracking Wastewater, Pipelines, and Drilling

The people of West Chester, PA, vote overwhelmingly to assert their community rights and ban fracking activities from their borough. They join dozens of other communities across the state – and the country – who are standing up for their rights.

Read More | Press Releases & Blogs, Success Story

Nov 4, 2015

Common Dreams: No Longer Willing to be Bullied and Fracked, How One Pennsylvania Town Fought Back

Common Dreams: No Longer Willing to be Bullied and Fracked, How One Pennsylvania Town Fought Back

Grant Township is the first community in the U.S. to draft and adopt their municipal charter based entirely on community rights. In so doing, they reinstated a fracking ban that had been overturned by a federal judge.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Nov 3, 2015

Press Release: Despite Court Ruling, Grant Township Bans Fracking Injection Wells Again, Through Municipal Charter

Press Release: Despite Court Ruling, Grant Township Bans Fracking Injection Wells Again, Through Municipal Charter

The people of Grant Township, PA, adopt the first rights-based charter in the country banning frack wastewater injection wells, two weeks after a federal judge overturned portions of a Community Bill of Rights ordinance banning the wells.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success Story

Oct 31, 2015

The Indiana Gazette: Grant Township voters to decide on home rule charter

The Indiana Gazette: Grant Township voters to decide on home rule charter

Grant Township, PA, residents will vote this week on becoming a home rule township through a rights-based charter. The charter establishes the residents’ rights to clean air, water, and local self-government, and bans frack wastewater injection wells.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 20, 2015

DeSmog Blog: Communities Pushing For Legal Rights To Regain Power Over Fracking Companies

DeSmog Blog: Communities Pushing For Legal Rights To Regain Power Over Fracking Companies

As the fracking industry pushes into communities against the will of the people, growing numbers of communities across the U.S. are using community rights in their grassroots organizing to challenge our existing structure of law and bring democracy back to the people.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 16, 2015

State Impact: Federal court rejects township’s waste water disposal ban

State Impact: Federal court rejects township’s waste water disposal ban

While a federal judge finds in favor of the oil and gas industry to force frack wastewater into Grant Township, PA, the decision also reveals to growing numbers of people the unjust structure of law and governance ruling over communities. Grant residents are considering an appeal.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 15, 2015

Press Release: Grant Township, PA: The People Left Out of Court Decision

Press Release: Grant Township, PA: The People Left Out of Court Decision

A U.S. District Court finds in favor of corporations to site a frack wastewater injection well in Grant Township, PA – ignoring the will and the rights of the people who live there. Grant residents consider an appeal, while growing numbers of residents seek a state constitutional amendment to protect their rights.

Read More | Uncategorized

Oct 7, 2015

EcoWatch: This Pennsylvania Community Is Determined to Ban GMOs and Pesticides

EcoWatch: This Pennsylvania Community Is Determined to Ban GMOs and Pesticides

Lancaster County, PA, residents recognize it’s not enough to label GMO food. They want to ban it. Using community rights, residents are organizing to assert their right to be GMO and pesticide-free.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 11, 2015

The Bradford Era: Publication describes liabilities townships face over bill of rights ordinance

The Bradford Era: Publication describes liabilities townships face over bill of rights ordinance

The PA State Association of Township Supervisors disparages CELDF’s work, while others see through the smokescreen to the real issue at hand: communities fighting to protect their health, safety, and welfare, while corporations bully them for doing so through lawsuits.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 8, 2015

StateImpact: DEP delays deep injection well decisions

StateImpact: DEP delays deep injection well decisions

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection refuses to issue two frack wastewater injection well permits where townships have community bills of rights bans on injection wells.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 5, 2015

Observer-Reporter: DEP cites local ordinances in wastewater well rejection

Observer-Reporter: DEP cites local ordinances in wastewater well rejection

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection rejects a permit for a frack wastewater injection well in Grant Township, acknowledging the Township’s Community Bill of Rights banning those wells.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 31, 2015

All is not Well in Grant Township

All is not Well in Grant Township

The true story of one community’s struggle to save their heritage watershed. And the corporations actively trying to destroy it.

Read More | Community Wires

Aug 31, 2015

Tamaqua Borough, Pennsylvania

Tamaqua Borough, Pennsylvania

The story of one Pennsylvania community gaining community rights.

Read More | Community Wires

Aug 30, 2015

Press Release: Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection Recognizes Community Authority to Ban Frack Wastewater Injection Wells

Press Release: Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection Recognizes Community Authority to Ban Frack Wastewater Injection Wells

MERCERSBURG, PA: On August 12, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) took an unprecedented step, for the first time suspending the issuance of a state frack wastewater injection well permit on the basis of a local ordinance banning injection wells.

Read More | Community Wires

Aug 25, 2015

The Bradford Era: New defendants want in on Highland Township injection well lawsuit

The Bradford Era: New defendants want in on Highland Township injection well lawsuit

A natural gas driller suing Highland Township in federal court claims attempts by outside parties to intervene in the case, one involving a municipal ban on wastewater injection wells, are both “befuddled” and baseless, asking the court to refuse their inclusion, in a statement filed on Monday.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 12, 2015

Warren City

Warren City

The Community Rights action in Warren City, Warren County, Pennsylvania has been a dramatic chapter in rights-based organizing. Facing tremendous political opposition from local officials and the gas industry, the charter amendment was soundly defeated, garnering 38% of the vote.

Read More | Community Wires

Aug 12, 2015

State College

State College

On November 8, 2011, the residents of State College voted overwhelmingly—72%—to amend their Home Rule Charter to include a Community Bill of Rights.

Read More | Community Wires

Aug 12, 2015

Peters Township Overview

Peters Township Overview

On November 23, 2010 Ellen Mavrich contacted CELDF asking for advice about adopting a community rights ordinance similar to the one enacted by Pittsburgh City Council, in consultation with CELDF, on November 16th. This is their story.

Read More | Community Wires

Aug 12, 2015

Allegheny Defense Project: Rural PA Township in the Allegheny National Forest refuses to be bullied by Houston, Texas based oil and gas company Seneca Resources Corporation.

Allegheny Defense Project: Rural PA Township in the Allegheny National Forest refuses to be bullied by Houston, Texas based oil and gas company Seneca Resources Corporation.

Highland Township, PA, supervisors voted last night to defend the people’s Community Bill of Rights banning frack wastewater injection wells. Seneca Resources Corporation claims it has a corporate “right” to inject wastewater in the township, and does not recognize the community’s right to protect their clean water.

Read More | Community Wires

Aug 11, 2015

Press Release: Highland Township Supervisors Vote to Defend Community Bill of Rights Banning Frack Wastewater Injection Wells

Press Release: Highland Township Supervisors Vote to Defend Community Bill of Rights Banning Frack Wastewater Injection Wells

This week, Highland Township, PA, Supervisors, with overwhelming community support, voted unanimously to defend their Community Bill of Rights banning frack wastewater injection wells rather than surrender their community’s rights. The vote was taken after Seneca Resources (Seneca) made good on a two year old threat to sue the Township to overturn the ordinance.

Read More | Uncategorized

Aug 11, 2015

Highland Township

Highland Township

Highland Township in Elk County, PA, adopted a Community Bill of Rights Ordinance in January 2013, codifying the community’s rights to clean air, water, the rights of nature, and to local self-governance – and banning fracking wastewater injection wells as a violation of those rights.

Read More | Uncategorized